Apparatus for successive treatment of motion-picture films.



G. G. DOBBS & M. MCGREGOR.

APPARATUS FOR SUGGBSSIVE TREATMENT OF MOTION PICTURE FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1914.

' Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

351 Gumm G. G. DOBBS & M. MGGREGOR.

APPARATUS FOR SUGGESSIVE TREATMENT OF MOTION PICTURE FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 25,1914.

1,109,208, Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

\ 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v I 5mm ntozs $1 4 awe anew UNITED sTA'rns PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE c. DOBBS AND MaLcoLM MQGREGOR, or Nnwironx, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR SUCCESSIVE TREATMENT OF MOTION-PICTURE FILMS.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Sept. 1,1914.

Application filed March 25,1914. Serial No. 827,217.

To allcohbm it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE C. Bones and MALCOLM MoGREooR, citizens of the United States of America, residing at New York,

in. the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus'for Successive Treatment of Motion-Picture Films, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whereby a continuous strip of motion picture film will be successively treated or exposed to various processes, i. 6. developed, fixed, washed, etc., durfilm is conveyed through the different receptacles to be treated in the latter successively,

while passing therethrough.

Our invention also consists in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the specification and in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings similar reference characters denote corresponding parts and Figurel shows a vertical longi tudinal section through the apparatus with some parts broken away; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section through one end of the a-pparatus; Fig. 4 is a similar section through the opposite end of the apparatus; Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a part'of the film guide or track with a broken away portion in the last compartment; Fig. 6 is a similar View of the guide or track in one of the other compartments; Fig. 7 is a'view of a modified detail and Fig. 8 is a cross section on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring more specifically to the draw ings a denotes a table or stationary frame on top of which our apparatus is mounted. The latter comprises a receptacle 7) divided into a number of water or liquid tight compartments or composed of a number of sections suitably-united with one another. In

practice there'may be about eight of such compartments or sectionsof which the first may be used for developing; the second for the hypo or fixing bath; the third may con- .tain a second hypo bath; the fourth and fifth compartments may be used for washing the film; the sixth may contain an alcohol bath; the seventh and the eighth compartments may be used for any other treatment that may be required. As usual,- in the drying compartment, there may be a box holding ice with a blower or ventilator therein. In the eighth compartment, polishing pads may be provided for polishing the film.

The film strip f to be treated in different compartments is, as usual, perforated and wound upon a roller 0 suitably supported upon the table or frame. This .film is adapted to be fed or conveyed successively through the different compartments and-to" be finally wound up at the opposite end of the table or frame upon a roller 0 supported on the latter. For guiding the film throughthe different compartments and from one roller to the other, we pro'videa continuoustrack or guide d which may be of aluminum or any other suitable material that will be acid proof. Thisguide is adapted to extend through all the compartments and consists of coiled parts (2, one for each compartment.

Each coiled part, which is made in form of a radiator pipe, extends throughout the entire width of thecompartment and is so ar-- ranged therein that it will lie below the level of the liquid contained therein. The end portions d (Z of each coil of the track rise to points located above the levelnnd pass through openings 6 made in thewalls ofthe compartments. The track or guide may be of any suitable construction, but inthe present example we have shown the same to be of U-shap'ed cross section, so that the film conveyed therethrough with its emulslon side on top, will have said side fully exposed to the solution contained -1n the receptacle. In the last compartment,

however, the track is inverted, that is to say, the openside of the U-shaped track an be at the bottom instead of on top as in the preceding compartments, so as to cover the emulsion side and to expose the'pl-ain side thereof in order that the latter may be treated by polishing disks (not shown).

For the feeding of the perforated film strip from one roller to the other and through the continuous coiled track or guide,

we provide toothed rollers or drums e extending through the coils at the rounded ends thereof, which drums are adapted to engage the perforations of the strip of film, and While revolving to feedthe latter. Instead of a separate roller for each winding, there may be one roller 6 extending throughout the entire width of a compartment and provided with sets of teeth 6 for each Winding (see Fig, 7). The individual rollers e or rollers c are fixed to spindles fsuita-bly borne in the side walls of'the receptacle and extending outwardly at one end. The rollers e, e or spindles f may be driven by any suitable means. In the present example We have shown a motor 9 supported by the table or frame and a multiple worm spindle 11. extending alongside the receptacle and suitably journaled in bearings Each spindle of the feeding rollers carries a Worm wheel which meshes with the corresponding threaded part of the Worm spindle. Transmission of motion from the mo tor to the worm spindle it may be accomplished as shown, by pulley or belt or in any other manner. The external parts 61*, d of the track or ide extending toward the rollers c, 0' mayi d widened at their ends '61 to permit of the film strip being easily and quickly entered into the guide. The

starting movement may be imparted to thefilm strip by means of a toothed roller is projecting into the guide or track through a notch cl and driven from a worm spindle j which in itsturn is driventhrough suitable transmission gears from the motor 9.

The apparatus will be so arranged that the first three compartments may have dark room facilities.

may be made by those skilled in the art v without departing from the spirit of our invention, we'do not limit ourselves to the details shown and described.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for successively treating motion picture films, comprising a plurality of compartments, one for each treatment and a stationary film guide or track extending continuously through all said compartments.

2. An apparatus for successively treating motion picture films, comprising a plurality of compartments, one for each treatment, a stationary film guide or track extending continuously through all said compartments, and means to feed the film in a continuous manner and successively along said guide throu h the different compartments.

3. n an'apparatus for successively treating motion picture films, a stationary coiled guide or track for the said film strip.

- 4. In an apparatus for successively treatpartments, a stationary coiled guide or track 1 for the film strip continuously extending through all'the said compartments and being of U-shaped cross section.

7. In an apparatus for successively treating motion picture films, a number of compartments, a stationary guide or track for the film strip continuously extending through all the said compartments and means for feeding the film through said guide.

8. In an apparatus for successively treat-' ing motion picture films, a number of compartments, a stationary guide for the film strip continuously extending throughall the said compartments, and feeding means in said guide for conveying the film continuously therethrough.

9. In an apparatus for successively treating motion picture films, a receptacle, a sta-; tionary film guid e therein and driven toothed rollers to engage and feed the film continuously through said guide.

10. In an apparatus for successively treating motion picture films, a coiled film guide or track each Winding of which has rounded ends and driven toothed rollers arranged at the said rounded ends of said guide or track to engage and feed the film continuously through said guide.

11. In an apparatus for successively treat ing motion picture films, a stationary coiled film guide or track, film. feeding. mechanisms therein and a driven spindle for driving'said feeding mechanisms. I

12. In an apparatus for successively treating motion picture films, a plurality ofliquid, receptacles, a continuous stationary film guide or track extending through all said receptacles, a film feedin mechanism in each receptacle and means for transmitting motion to said feeding mechanisms.-

13. In an apparatus for successively treating motion picture films, a liquid receptacle divided into Water tight compartments, a

stationary film guide or track composed of coils one for each compartment. and connected to one anotherto form a continuous guide or track, film feeding mechanism in each compartment and driving means for said feeding mechanism.

14. In an apparatus for successively treating motion picture films, a liquid receptacle divided into water tight compartments, a

film-guide composed of coils one for each compartment and connected to one another to form a continuous guide or track, film feeding mechanism in each compartment and a driven spindle extending alongside said receptacle and transmitting motion to said feeding mechanisms.

15. In an apparatus for successively treating motion picture films, a liquid receptacle divided into water tight compartments, a film guide composed of coils one for each compartment and connected to one another to form a continuous guide or track, film feeding mechanism in each compartment and a driven multiple worm spindle extending alongside said receptacle and transmitting motion to said mechanisms.

16. Inan apparatus for successively treat- Q ing motion picture films, a coiled film guide of U-shaped cross section, the coil at oneend track forthe film strip extending continuously through all compartments and composed of coiled sections, each coil being adapted to be submerged in the liquid and its end parts rise above the level thereof,

and filmv feeding means in each compartment.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGEC. DOBBS. MALCOLM MCGREGOR. Witnesses:

E. D. JUNIOR, D. KLEIN. 

